Building Roots

Building Roots Give-What-You-Can fresh food market/ community garden / community-driven programs / wrap around supports & services

Starting in 2013 as a progressive grassroots social venture, Building Roots was initially founded in response to a lack of fresh food access and agricultural growing space across Toronto. We believe that inadequate food systems are a by-product of greater social issues within these communities. Without addressing the need to heal our roots, we cannot address poverty, social isolation & inadequate

civil investment. Shifting our focus in response to these symptoms, and glaringly in response to COVID-19, we began to build resources for social cohesion and co-create targeted development of community tools alongside the community. Among a large list of “firsts” - we have been featured on CBC, CTV, Globe and Mail & the National post all to discuss our impact & how we created Canada’s first ever market operating out of a shipping container. Since 2013 this vision has led us to co-create innovative projects that provide fresh food access, meaningful engagement, and transform communities. In 2019 we launched a charity to expand this work, the Growing Neighbourhoods Foundation.

The skies and the garden were looking a bit grey last weekend but soon will be flourishing! Our staff and volunteers gav...
04/24/2026

The skies and the garden were looking a bit grey last weekend but soon will be flourishing! Our staff and volunteers gave the garden a good spring clean and got it ready for planting! Thank you to all who came out to help us out. 🧹💛

We’re thrilled to kick off the growing season with our amazing Community Garden Coordinator, Nico! 🌱Last week we receive...
04/22/2026

We’re thrilled to kick off the growing season with our amazing Community Garden Coordinator, Nico! 🌱

Last week we received some great feedback from community members on what they would like to see growing in the Moss Park Community Garden and we are excited to make that happen. While not everyone may be able to grow alongside us, everyone will have a chance to enjoy the harvest when we share it at the Moss Park Market.

We’d also love to hear from you—what plants do you recommend for growing in Toronto’s urban landscape? Share your ideas with us!👇

Welcoming farmer Arnest to the market 🌱We’re excited to share that we’ve started sourcing fresh, locally grown produce f...
04/10/2026

Welcoming farmer Arnest to the market 🌱

We’re excited to share that we’ve started sourcing fresh, locally grown produce from a Toronto-based farmer, bringing even more seasonal goodness straight to our community. This week’s delivery included beautiful spring green mix and spinach—harvested close to home and full of freshness.

Behind the scenes, our volunteers have been busy portioning the greens into bags, getting everything ready for market day.

Be sure to check out and explore the recipes on their website 🥬

Welcoming a farmer Arnest to the market 🌱We’re excited to share that we’ve started sourcing fresh, locally grown produce...
04/10/2026

Welcoming a farmer Arnest to the market 🌱

We’re excited to share that we’ve started sourcing fresh, locally grown produce from a Toronto-based farmer, bringing even more seasonal goodness straight to our community. This week’s delivery included beautiful spring green mix and spinach—harvested close to home and full of freshness.

Behind the scenes, our volunteers have been busy portioning the greens into bags, getting everything ready for market day.

Be sure to check out and explore the recipes on their website! 🥬

Today is In our community, health is something many people are actively working through every day — managing chronic co...
04/07/2026

Today is

In our community, health is something many people are actively working through every day — managing chronic conditions, navigating stress, and doing their best to care for themselves and their families with what they have.

And in the middle of that, something as simple as fresh, nourishing food can make a real difference. It supports our body and creates space for healing in ways that go beyond the physical.

One community member shared with us:
“You helped my health, I got my appetite back. You take care of me and don't judge me. You talk to me [...]”

Because health is not only about what we eat — it’s also about how we feel. It’s mental, emotional, and rooted in connection. Feeling cared for, seen, and supported can be just as important as the food itself.

This World Health Day, we’re reminded that access to fresh food and compassionate spaces helps people not just get by — but begin to feel well again.

🍎 to support this work — link in bio.

A to a couple weeks ago when everyone was celebrating Eid and Nowruz at the market ✨One of our former staff joined us ...
04/02/2026

A to a couple weeks ago when everyone was celebrating Eid and Nowruz at the market ✨

One of our former staff joined us for a volunteer shift and brought in the most thoughtful homemade treats to share with the community. It’s always meaningful to have people return and continue to give their time and care in this way.

Saturdays at the market are busy and full — a steady flow of people picking up food, checking in with one another, and making their way through the space. That day, those treats were passed along hand to hand, adding something special to the day.

We’re grateful to be part of a community that shows up for each other like this 💛

A big thank you to Here2Help for the donation of hygiene items for our community.These are often requested items and it'...
03/31/2026

A big thank you to Here2Help for the donation of hygiene items for our community.

These are often requested items and it's nice to have them on hand for community members.

Here2Help has been a strong community partner to us. Their team shows up responding to immediate needs — supporting people through crisis, helping de-escalate situations, harm reduction and connecting folks to medical care.

We’re grateful to be in community with a team that shares the same care for supporting people, right when they need it.

Thank you, H2H 💚

Check them out here - https://h2hresponds.ca/

Eid Mubarak 🌙✨We’re feeling especially grateful as we reflect on the beautiful iftar we shared with our volunteers. It’s...
03/20/2026

Eid Mubarak 🌙✨

We’re feeling especially grateful as we reflect on the beautiful iftar we shared with our volunteers. It’s such a blessing to be able to gather, share food, and be surrounded by people who care deeply about our community and support this work.

Eid reminds us of the importance of generosity, connection, and gratitude — and we feel so lucky to experience all of that alongside such an incredible group of people.

Wishing peace, joy, and abundance to everyone celebrating. Thank you to our amazing volunteers for being such a meaningful part of our community 💛

Our 2026 Community Leaders program is now open for intake!This program brings community members together to explore how ...
03/12/2026

Our 2026 Community Leaders program is now open for intake!

This program brings community members together to explore how we care for one another and the land we share. Through weekly gatherings, shared meals, hands-on workshops, and local field trips, participants will build meaningful relationships while learning practical skills in food sovereignty, land stewardship, and community leadership.

If you or anyone you know is interested you can email us at [email protected]

**Priority will be given to Moss Park residents, and folks with a lived
experience of food insecurity

Sometimes we get the chance to bring in something a little special for the community — last week it was coconuts 🥥Moment...
03/11/2026

Sometimes we get the chance to bring in something a little special for the community — last week it was coconuts 🥥

Moments like this remind us how meaningful it is to share fresh, culturally relevant foods that might remind people of home. At the same time, global challenges are beginning to affect how food moves around the world. As supply chains become more complicated, food prices may start to rise and certain foods may become harder for communities to access.

Programs like ours work to make sure good food continues to reach the people who need it most — and sometimes we even get to add something special to the table.

If you’d like to help us keep food flowing into the community, consider making a donation.

https://www.paypal.com/CA/fundraiser/charity/3717116

Even on colder Toronto days like the ones we’ve been having, Coffee & Conversations is still on ☕❄️We simply move things...
02/25/2026

Even on colder Toronto days like the ones we’ve been having, Coffee & Conversations is still on ☕❄️

We simply move things indoors to our blue shipping container — the Gathering Space — so our volunteers can stay warm and folks passing by can step in for a coffee and a break from the cold.

Same community, just cozier. 💙

A big thank you to the for joining us last weekend and so generously sharing the art of writing fai chun with the Moss ...
02/18/2026

A big thank you to the for joining us last weekend and so generously sharing the art of writing fai chun with the Moss Park community. We’re really grateful you brought your culture and traditions into the space and created a moment for people to learn and connect together.

Wishing everyone a happy Lunar New Year — may the year ahead bring care, abundance, and good fortune 🧧 🐎

Address

Toronto, ON

Website

https://buildingroots.ca/our-2025-2027-strategic-plan/

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